Local authorities hold a press conference on Aug 31 in Zhoushan to announce the opening of "The Belt and Road" International Islands Tourism Development Zhoushan Forum. [Photo/ mobile.zhoushan.cn]

"The Belt and Road" International Islands Tourism Development Zhoushan Forum is to be held in Putuo district, Zhoushan city, Zhejiang province, from Sept 19 to 22, according to a press conference held by local authorities on Aug 31. 

Themed on developing high-end tourist businesses and high-quality tourism, the forum will serve as a platform for experts and scholars from home and abroad to discuss how China and island countries and coastal cities involved in the Belt and Road Initiative can promote the development of their respective tourism industries.

At the same time, the 2018 International Islands Tourism Expo will also come to Putuo, displaying the latest tourism products from the islands via its 210 booths, and offering visitors a chance to experience the sights and sounds of these places through Virtual Reality (VR) devices.

Special auctions for the tourism products are scheduled to take place at the expo.

As a complement to the forum and the expo, nearly 30 tourist activities have been organized to take place throughout the entire month of September, such as a music festival, seafood festival, outdoor tourism conference, and camping carnival.